RoleCraft Storyteller - Rose of the Sun

Wil'amae. What a name. What were your parents thinking when they named you, you have often wondered? Then, as usual, you realize how much it fits you. Even your nickname, Wil, is a perfect reflection of you, or so you have often been told. You at first thought it was something the other orphan kids called you because they couldn't pronounce your whole name. As you grew older, the priests who were guiding your learning would often remark in low tones about how much 'will' you have, especially when things just didn't go your way, or a way you liked. Willpower, even to the point of being stubborn, has never been a trait you lacked. That is probably the one thing you have trusted above everything else to get you to this day. Softly whispering another prayer of thanks to you parents for naming you so, you slip on the brilliant blue and white graduation robe, gather your backpack, and begin the walk to Silvermoon City.

Though it's still early by the time you reach The Shepard's Gate entrance into Silvermoon, the heat has increased a good bit, and the day looks to be quite a beautiful one. Thankfully, Silvermoon isn't very far from Farstrider Retreat, and you welcome the magically cooled air that's kept swirling through the city. You are also thankful you didn't muss up your fresh clean robe with dust from a long walk.

As you step out onto the Walk of Elders, you suddenly realise it has been many months since you last set foot in Silvermoon, even though this is the place you currently call home. For one, you've been much too occupied with your priest studies over in Sunstrider Isle, Falconwing Square, and all throughout Eversong Woods, to have a chance to return home. There is also the fact that coming home brings back a lot of sorrowful memories of when your parents were alive. Even now, after much meditation and practice on emptying your mind and calming your heart to prepare for today, you can still hear their voices crisply over the din of the city, and it brings an ache to your bones you think you'll never know a cure for.

A lumbering Arcane Guardian nearly knocks you down as you cross the Court of the Sun, snapping your attention back to the present. You are at the same time feeling both gracious and guilty for not wanting to think about your parents, even on a day like today. Ponaris, the Priest trainer at Falconwing Square with whom you've spent the last few seasons in training, warned you this would happen, on the day he said he had taught you all he could, and that you were ready for your first rite of passage as a priest. The scroll he gave you then, with the official summons from Lotheolan, Priest Trainer at Sunfury Spire, is safely tucked inside your backpack. You quickly begin to recite the prayer that was also written there, which you must know for the ceremony, and hopefully forever after, provided you pass the final test.

Making your way slowly up the broad expanse of red carpet leading into Sunfury Spire, you cast an approving glance at the spotless soldiers flanking the path. Letting the feelings of honor and courage they display push away your last thoughts of everything but your duty at hand, you step inside the Spire, carefully setting your backpack down in the anteroom and pulling out the scroll.

Smoothing your robe, and straightening the band holding your hair in place, you grasp the scroll with a purpose, close your eyes, and -

"Well, come on in, Wil'amae Sunrose, no need to stand out there all day. If you're not ready by now, you never will be."

Startled by Lotheolan's voice calling you from inside the Priests' antechamber, you take a quicker deep breath than you had wanted and step through the blue sheen draping and into the room. The tall glowing statue of the female blood elf in the center of the room, who's name you do not know, still manages to inspire a sense of wonder, no matter how many times you've seen it. Books of every type, color, shape and size surround the rest of the room, purposefully lined on the wall shelves, and quickly stacked in piles on the floor.

Priest Lotheolan clears his throat from amidst the largest stack of books on the floor, and stands glaring at you with a cocked head and an expecting look.

Not wasting another moment, you step up and hold out the scroll for him. "I am Novice Acolyte Wil'amae Sunrose. I have come to test my worthiness for the first priest rite of passage." You stand motionless, barely even breathing after introducing yourself according to the ceremony rites, and look into Lotheolan's eyes.